Bullet Resistant Desktop

ABSTRACT

A bullet-resistant shield is described herein that attaches to existing student desks. The embodiment consists of a bullet-resistant repositionable desk top and height-adjustable bullet-resistant front shields.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application61/848,300 filed 2012 Dec. 31 by the present inventor and provisionalpatent application 61/853/438 filed 2013 Apr. 5 filed by the presentinventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protection against personalassault for those in vulnerable environments such as classrooms.

BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

Recent tragic school shootings have led to greater needs to protectinnocent children against such occurrences. The need exists foreffective, tangible protection for students and others in classroom orgroup institutional settings. It is also desirable that protectionagainst assailants be made personally available to individual studentsenabling immediate reactive response in the absence of safe rooms,security or law enforcement personnel.

The present invention provides an improvement in individual protection,and has for a first objective provision of a hinged horizontal desktopthat may be rotated to a vertical position as a bullet-resistant shieldthat may be selectively used by an individual student against assaultprotecting the student's upper body vital organs, face and head.

Another objective is to provide a shield in an innocuous mode as anordinary horizontal desk work surface that can be easily and quicklyrotated to a vertical position as a bullet-resistant shield againstprojectiles including, but not limited to, bullets, knives, shrapnel,flying debris that might be encountered in naturally occurring eventssuch as earthquakes, fires and storms.

Another objective is to provide adjustable-height, bullet-resistantvertical front shields that can be fitted to varying desk heights toprotect the student's lower body from desktop to floor againstprojectiles including, but not limited to, bullets, knives, shrapnel, orflying debris that might be encountered in naturally occurring eventssuch as earthquakes, fires and storms. These and yet further objects andadvantages will be understood from the present specification anddrawings which disclose the best mode presently known to the Applicantfor carrying out this invention.

Numerous innovations for bullet resistant protection have been providedin prior art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for thespecific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from thepresent invention as herein after contrasted. The following is a summaryof prior art most relevant to the invention at hand, as well as adescription outlining the difference between the features of the presentinvention and those of the prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,379 of James R. Taylor describes a removable bulletresistant desk top for releasable attachment to a desk frame. The desktop includes a sheet of transparent laminated polycarbonate plastic thatcan be lifted from the desk frame using attached handles and byreleasing one or more buckle clips that secure the desk top to the deskframe.

This patent does not consider the physical size, strength and ability ofsmall kindergarten and elementary students when it requires them tounlatch, lift and hold in a defensive position a large, heavy, bulletresistant desk top from the desk frame in a crisis situation. Thispatent does not consider the physical size, strength and inherent fearof small kindergarten, elementary and older students when it requiresthem to face the assailant who is attempting to kill them. This patentdoes not consider the courage, or absence thereof, of small kindergartenand elementary or older children when it requires them to continueholding in front of them a defensive shield that is being peppered withhigh powered automatic gunfire from assault weapons or handguns fired byan assailant that is trying to kill them. This patent does not considerthat the transparent desktop may provide protection only for the upperbody organs leaving the lower body totally exposed to the assailant.

Pub. No. 2012/0152096 of Fred E. Peters offers ideas of how bulletresistant materials can be used in various types of furniture andstructures such as existing or new furniture for use where people gathersuch as in meeting rooms, classrooms, libraries, governmental chambers,council rooms, and school board chambers.

Further, the application states that the bullet resistant material beingdescribed requires an area of flexibility to achieve maximumperformance, but offers no test data substantiating the claim renderingthe statement unproven or substantiated in prior art.

The application's ideas focuses on student desks in the application'sFIG. 22 wherein the top of a student desk and the back of a desk chairare shown to be bullet resistant, FIG. 23 wherein both the top and frontof the student desk are shown to be bullet resistant, FIG. 24 whereinthe top of the student desk and the seat of an attached stool are shownto be bullet resistant and FIG. 25 wherein both the top and front of thestudent desk and the seat of an attached stool are shown to be bulletresistant. In each figure the desktop and front shield are fixed inposition requiring the student to seek refuge in a small area beneaththe desktop. These designs may accommodate small children but may lackadequate room to protect larger jr. high and high school students.

The bullet-resistant panels shown in FIG. 23 depicts both panelsattached in a fixed position providing no upper body protection. It isnot clear in FIG. 22, FIG. 23, FIG. 24, FIG. 25 whether thebullet-resistant materials are enclosed in the furniture or attached toexterior surfaces. Those skilled in the art will know that thebullet-resistant materials described therein offer little aestheticvalue and In order to achieve a decorative appearance should be enclosedin a decorative frame or shell.

LIST OF DRAWING NUMBERS 5 bullet-resistant desktop shield 6bullet-resistant spacer shield 7 bullet-resistant front shield 8mounting bracket 9 rotating shaft slot 10 spring assisted rotating shaftassembly 11 rotating shaft 12 torsion spring 13 rotating shaft retainer14 existing desk

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the embodiment attached to an existing deskshowing the bullet-resistant spacer shield and the bullet-resistantfront shields providing a protective bullet-resistant guard from floorto desktop, with the bullet-resistant desktop in the everyday horizontalposition.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment attached to an existing deskshowing the bullet-resistant spacer shield and the bullet-resistantfront shields providing a protective bullet-resistant guard from floorto desktop, with the bullet-resistant desktop in the vertical assaultdefense position providing bullet-resistant protection for the upperbody vital organs and head.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing showing a student taking a defensiveposition behind the bullet-resistant front shields, and thebullet-resistant desktop shield lifted by the student to the verticaldefensive position resulting in full body bullet-resistant protection.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view drawing showing the bullet-resistant andmechanical components of the invention illustrating the method ofassembly, and installation on an existing desk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Looking now in greater detail to the drawings, retro-fitbullet-resistant desktop 5, front spacer shield 6 and front shield 7that attach to an existing desk 14. The present embodiment may beprovided in different sizes and configurations.

The embodiment of my invention is represented in FIG. 4 and isconfigured for mounting as a retro-fit or to be supplied in combinationwith desk frames. It should be understood that the existing student desk14 configuration illustrated here is simply an example of many deskconfigurations that may be used, including those desks that areadjustable in height by use of telescoping legs, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the embodiment. In general, the desk 14 willinclude a desk frame that may be formed of various materials and areconventional in desk making practices.

In the present embodiment the desktop 5, spacer shield 6, and the frontshield 7 are formed of bullet-resistant material such as KEVLAR® fromDuPont and GOLD SHIELD® and SPECTRASHIELD® from Honeywell that have beentested and proven to absorb the shock of being hit by a bullet or otherprojectile. It must be understood that a variety of other materials suchas some metals and plastics can offer a means of providing ballisticdefense when they are proven to absorb the shock of being hit by abullet or other projectiles. The thickness, and therefore the weight, ofthe bullet-resistant products from the above distributors vary accordingto the level of bullet resistance desired by the user. The thinner and,therefore, lighter weight the bullet-resistant product the smallercaliber and less powerful the projectile it can absorb.

It is preferred that the thicker, higher level bullet-resistant materialbe used in the desktop 5, the spacer shield 6 and the front shield 7enabling the absorption of higher caliber, more powerful bulletscommonplace in today's world, in particular those fired from assaultrifles, and in doing so the additional physical strength required tolift the desktop 5 because of the additional thickness and weight of thehigher bullet-resistant-level shield is offset by use of a torsionspring 12 to aid young students in lifting the bullet-resistant desktopeasily and safely to the vertical defense position shown in FIG. 2.Regardless of the bullet-resistant-shield-level used, a torsion spring12 calibrated to match the necessary lift required is installed on therotating shaft 11. It is possible that other configurations providinglift assist may also be used. For example, air or gas-filled cylinderssimilar to those used to lift automobile trunk lids and tailgates.

Bullet-resistant spacer 6 is attached to mounting bracket 8. Mountingbracket 8 attaches to the existing desk 14. The front shield 7 is set tothe floor and attached to the spacer shield 6 covering any remainingopen space between the floor and the spacer shield 6 which varies withthe manufacturers desk heights or height changes resulting fromtelescoping leg adjustments made in the classroom.

The spring assisted rotating shaft assembly 10 is attached to theunderside of the desktop 5. The rotating shaft assembly 10 with thedesktop 5 attached is partnered to mounting bracket 8 by positioningboth ends of the rotating shaft 11 into the rotating shaft slot 9 andsecured in place at both ends with the rotating shaft retainers 13. Thedesktop 5 can now be easily lifted into the vertical defensive position,FIG. 4, easily regardless of size and weight with assistance from thecalibrated torsion springs 12.

When the desktop 5 is lifted it moves to a vertical position when therotating shaft assembly 10 to which it is attached pivots around therotating shaft 11. When moved to the vertical defensive position thedesktop 5 places a bullet-resistant defensive shield in a position toprotect classmates sitting at the desk 14. When activated, the desktop5, spacer shield 6, and front shield 7 provide full body cover for oneor more students or adults in the classroom. Depending on existing desk14 design, students can take refuge under the desk, sitting at the desk,aligned behind another student sitting at the desk, or armed adults canstand behind the vertically-positioned bullet-resistant desk forprotection when returning fire at an intruder. In any of the aboveoptions the student is never required to remove the desktop 5 from thedesk 14 as required in prior art, is not required to face the assailantas required in prior art, and is not required to tip over a desk inorder to seek refuge from a frontal assault.

When several rows of the embodiment e activated into the defensiveposition students in front rows may vacate their position to take refugebehind activated shields in the back of the classroom creating a line ofprotection that would require a projectile to pass through several rowsof bullet-resistant protection before ever reaching the safe haven thestudents have taken in the back of the classroom. Organized safetytraining and instructions for should be periodically instructed in theproper use of the invention.

The embodiment offers an equal opportunity for protection to all usersregardless of age, size or physical ability.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and mechanical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and described, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

I claim:
 1. A desk with an adjustable bullet resistant front and apivotal bullet resistant desktop, comprising: a A desk including uprightlegs and a substantially horizontal top frame section. b A minimum oftwo bullet resistant front panels and bullet resistant desktop panel. cA hinge. d Lift springs.
 2. A desk as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hingeis attached to the top frame.
 3. A desk as claimed in claim 1 whereinone front panel is attached to the desk.
 4. A desk as claimed in claim 1wherein the second front panel is attached to the previously attachedfront panel.
 5. A desk as claimed in claim 1 wherein lift springs areattached to the hinge.
 6. A desk as claimed in claim 1 wherein thedesktop is attached to the hinge.